Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effect of deltamethrin(DM)and 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)on NF-E2 related factor 2(Nrf2)/(ARE)pathway in PC12 cells in vitro.MethodsPC12 cells were treated with 10μmol/L of DM for 1 hr or 100μmol/L of 6-OHDA for 17 hr,respectively.The relative amount of mRNA expresion of Nrf2 gene and it's target gene was measured with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The Nrf2 protein level was detected with western blot.The hemeoxygenase1(HO-1)protein level was detected with immunocytochemistry combined with laser scan confocal microscopy(LSCM).ResultsThe results showed that DM enhanced cellular expression of Nrf2 at transcriptional and protein level.In addition,DM treatment caused nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 in association with downstream activation of Nrf2 mediated oxidative response genes such as glutamylcysteine synthetase h(GCSh),and HO-1.6-OHDA could induce Nrf2 and expressions of both HO-1 mRNA and protein and activate Nrf2.6-OHDA could also induce mRNA expression of GCSh gene.ConclusionThe study suggests that DM and 6-OHDA exhibit similar activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway and DM is a neurotoxic agent disturbing Nrf2/ARE pathway.